Senate Resolution No. 323

BY: Senator AKSHAR

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
January 2021, as Radon Awareness Month in the State
of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious
health issues that affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body hereby memorializes
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim January 2021, as Radon Awareness
Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of
National Radon Action Month; and

WHEREAS, Radon is a colorless, odorless, invisible gas that can only
be detected through radon testing; it is a radioactive gas that is
produced by the natural decay of uranium that is found in nearly all
soils; and

WHEREAS, It is estimated that radon causes many thousands of deaths
each year due to breathing air containing radon which can cause lung
cancer; the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading
cause of lung cancer in the United States today; and

WHEREAS, The only way to know if there is a risk from radon is to
test for it; the EPA and the Surgeon General both strongly recommend
testing all homes below the third floor for radon; and

WHEREAS, The Governor signed Chapter 414 of 2018 which recognized
the dangers of exposure and created a Radon Task Force to conduct a
comprehensive study on the human exposure to radon in indoor settings in
New York State; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater awareness of this
serious health condition, and more must be done to increase activity at
the local, State and National levels; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim January 2021, as Radon
Awareness Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Radon Action Month; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York.